THIRD PERSON'S POV:
Binabaybay nila ang EDSA. Nakadagdag sa init ng ulo ni Micael ng sobrang traffic.
"Kelan mo balak sabihin sa kin na boss mo ang Edward na yun?!" Bigla ay tanong nito.
"I thought you knew, the copy of the contract and job offer is at home. Malay ko ba na hindi mo nakita."
"Of all companies? Sa kumpanya pa talaga ng lalaking yun mo napiling magtrabaho?!" Galit na tugon nito.
"Why not? They have stable company, ang laki ng offer nila sa kin at marami pang benefits."
"I want you to resign immediately!"
"No." She answered firmly.
"What?!"
"I said no. Hindi ako aalis dun dahil lang sa sinabi mo."
"I'm your boyfriend, siguro naman may karapatan akong mag-demand!"
"You are my boyfriend and I love you, but you very well know that I love my children more than I love myself so it's a no."
"Bakit? Kaya ko naman ibigay ang kung anong inoffer sayo ng lalaking yun, mas higit pa! Pero mas pinili mong magtrabaho sa kanya!" He said furiously. Hindi nya matanggap na she chose the other guy over him.
"Ilang beses ba natin dapat pagtalunan 'to? Alam mo naman ang rason ko kung bakit ayokong magtrabaho sa kumpanya nyo."
"Pero sa company ni Edward okay lang ganun?!"
"Ano ba kasing ikinagagalit mo? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama para magalit ka sa akin ng ganyan."
"You knew how much I hated that guy pero pinili mo pa ring magtrabaho sa kanya. Sinong hindi magagalit dun?!"
"I have my reasons, I have to work for my kids and of all the companies, theirs had the best offer. Di ba dapat, ikaw ang mas higit na nakakaintindi sa kin?"
"Gusto kitang intindihin, pero pano ko gagawin yun kung ako mismo hindi mo maintindihan?"
Hindi na umimik si Danielle, alam nyang walang patutunguhan ang pagtatalo nilang yun. Greatest competitor ng company ng dad nya ang company nila Edward kaya ganun na lamang ang galit ng nobyo nito ng malaman na sa rival company nila nya napiling magtrabaho. Pero kasi pagdating sa welfare ng mga anak nya, lahat gagawin nya even if it means disobeying Micael. "Hatid mo na ko, mag-usap na lang tayo kapag kalmado ka na." She said coldly.
He tried to utter a word but then he saw her looked away so he decided to shut up. Tahimik sila sa buong byahe hanggang sa makarating sila sa bahay ng dalaga hindi pa rin sya nito iniimik, kaya minabuti na lang nyang umalis. Hahayaan na lang muna nyang lumipas ang galit nila pareho kesa crash silang dalawa.
___________________________________________________
Few days later...
EDWARD'S POV:
I was invited by DI-LAW SCHOOL for their 20th Foundation Day, and because our company is their greatest contributor, I was asked to give a speech. 10AM supposedly ang start ng program but it's already 11AM pero hindi pa din nagsisimula. So I decided to wander around kesa naman mabored ako. The institution is both for elementary and highschool students. Napadpad ako sa may mga batang naglalaro. Nakakatuwa silang pagmasdan, I envy their innocence, wala pa silang muwang sa mga nangyayari sa paligid nila. Basta makapaglaro, ayos na. Kung sana ang buhay ay ganun lang kadali. But unfortunately, once you grow up, life became so much complicated.
A moment later, I saw a familiar kid about a few meters away from where I stand. He seem like crying kasi nakayoko ito. I started walking towards him.
"Ethan?" I asked when I got near him. He lifted his head to see me.
"Mr. Edward?!" His eyes widened in surprise then he hastily stoop up and wrapped his small arms around my legs since he can't reach my waist. I kneeled down so he can hug me. "I'm sorry Mr. Edward, but I really need a father right now." He said in between sobs. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko, pero sa narinig ko, nadurog ang puso ko. This is exactly how I feel everytime I see Kirsten cry. Pangalawang beses pa lang naming nagkikita ng batang 'to pero bakit pakiramdam ko, may koneksyon kaming dalawa? Bakit ngayong nakita ko syang umiiyak, bakit bigla ko naramdaman na gusto kong maging ama sa kanya?
"Why are you crying buddy?"
He let go of the hug pero nakayoko pa din sya. "I was bullied. They mocked me because I don't have a father. They said kaya ako lampa kasi wala daw akong papa. Na abnormal daw ako kasi wala akong tatay."
"Look at me." He lifted his head. "Hindi ka lampa, okay? You are just gentle, but it doesn't mean you are weak and not having a father doesn't make you different. Next time when they told you, you don't have a father, ipakilala mo ko sa kanila. Tell them I am your dad, okay?"
His face lighten up. "Really?!"
"Yes. Don't let them mock you again. You have to learn how to be strong and defend yourself, okay?"
"Okay. Can I call you papa?"
"Of course, anytime." I smiled genuinely, then he hugged me again. I hope his real father wouldn't mind if I take his place for the meantime. Hindi man officially pero at least, may matatawag na ama ang mga anak nya.
"Thank you Mr.~I mean, papa." Sarap pala sa pandinig na tinatawag akong 'papa'.
"Ethan?" We let go of the hug. She immediately went near us when she saw his swollen eyes. "Why are you crying?" She looked up to me and narrowed her eyes on me. "Did you made him cry Mr. Edward?!"
"No~"
"Kelsey, it's not his fault. He saw me cry so he comforted me." Ethan said to defend me.
"Is it Denver again?!" She asked angrily. Her brother nodded in response. "I knew it! Lagot na talaga sa kin yun!" She fussed and ran away.
I chase her, mabilis syang tumakbo pero dahil matangkad ako, madali ko syang naabutan. I grabbed her by the waist and carry her. Pabalik na kami kay Ethan. She tried to struggle pero syempre wala syang nagawa, mabuti na lang at mabilis kami nakabalik kundi baka mapagkamalan pa kong kidnapper. Dahan-dahan ko syang binaba. "Why did you do that?!" Matapang na tanong nito, ang bata-bata pa sobrang tapang na nya. Gusto ba naman sugurin yung umaway sa kapatid nya.
"Because it's not right to start a fight."
"But I have to avenge my brother! They have to pay for what they did to him!"
I shook my head. Ibang klase ang tapang ng batang 'to. "Masama ang makipag-away, kabata-bata mo pa ang tapang-tapang mo na. And besides, you're a girl, hindi magandang ikaw ang nagsisimula ng away."
"He's right Kelsey, I'm fine now. I really appreciate your concern but I am your brother, I should be the one to protect you not the other way around." Natutuwa ako habang pinapakinggan ko sila, they surely care for each other so much. Parang kami ni Anika, we always got each others back.
"I know Ethan, pero hahayaan mo na lang ba silang i-bully ka? They've done that for so many times and I didn't do anything because you don't want me to but now, I've had enough. We need to get even!" Seriously, san ba nagmana ng katapangan ang batang 'to?
I caressed her hair. "Kelsey, listen to me. Yes, they've hurt your brother but it doesn't mean that you have to hurt them too. Masama ang maghiganti, revenge won't do you any good. Believe me, I've been through a lot."
"Okay, then I'll report them to the principal."
"Much bett~"
"But sis, if you'll report them, Ms. Principal will call mama, she'll know."
"So? Maybe it's time we tell mama about those bullies."
"I don't want her to worry. She's been working hard, ayoko ng dumagdag sa mga problems nya."
"Ethan, I think your sister is right. We need to report this para once and for all, matigil na yung pambubully sayo. That way, hindi na magwoworry mama mo."
"You think so?"
"Yes."
"Okay, payag na ko."
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" They both hold my hand as they guide me to the Principal's office.
We're on our way to the office ng biglang tumigil si Kelsey. She narrowed her eyes sa isang grupo ng mga batang lalaki na nagkukumpulan sa harap ng isang kiosk.
"Uy si Miss Taray at ang kapatid nyang lampa!" I heard one of the kid say.
"Palibhasa walang tatay kaya pareho silang abnormal!" Aba, loko 'tong mga batang 'to ah. Ilang taon pa lang sila pero ang babastos na ng bunganga.
"Ah kawawa! Kawawa! Kawawa! Walang tatay!" They taunted. Hindi na ko nakapagpigil, ang sarap nila tirisin, pero syempre hindi ko ginawa, sa isip ko lang sila tiniris.
I went near them, napansin kong sumunod sa kin ang kambal. "Excuse me, ito bang mga ANAK ko ang inaasar nyo?" I said as I give emphasis on the word "anak".
"Sino ka?!" Matapang na tanong nung isa.
"I'm their father."
Different emotions crossed their faces. "Pano nangyari yun eh wala namang tatay yang mga yan?" Aba matapang din 'tong isang 'to. Kung 6 years old 'to, masyado syang malaki for his age.
"Dati yun, ngayon dumating na ko kaya meron na silang daddy. At dahil nandito na ko, gusto kong makausap yung mga magulang nyo."
"Sige, pulis ang tatay ko!" Sabi pa rin nung matangkad na bata.
"Wala akong pakialam kung pulis ang tatay mo, gusto ko syang makausap." Ha-ha, ang sarap pumatol sa bata.
"Excuse me, what is going on here?" I heard someone asked. I turn to see where the voice is coming from.
"Mr. Kingsleigh?" She uttered in disbelief. "Kayo po pala yan, akala po namin umalis na kayo." Said the middle-aged woman.
"I got bored waiting so I wandered around."
"Pasensya na po ang tagal nagstart yung program."
"I'm sorry, but you are?" I asked skeptically. Kilala nya ko pero sya kasi hindi ko talaga kilala.
"Oh how rude of me, sorry. I'm Yvette Marasigan, I'm the school principal." Ah...exactly the person I need. "Are these students bothering you sir?"
"Actually, I want to speak with their parents."
Her eyes widened. "B-bakit po? May nagawa po ba sila sa inyo? Nako, sorry po."
"Hindi sa akin. I found out, they've been bullying my kids, Ethan and Kelsey."
Mas nanlaki ang mga mata nya sa narinig nya. "T-they are y-your c-children sir?"
"Yes."
"But, h-how did it happened? Ang alam namin patay na ang tatay nila."
"Says who, my wife? Well, it's a long story. But right now, I want to meet those kids' parents." I said authoritatively.
"O-okay sir, I'll call them immediately. I'll leave you for awhile so I can call them." She said and hastily went to her office.
Yumuko ako at nakipag hi-five sa kambal. "Ayos ba?"
"Ayos! Thank you papa!" Ethan said cheerfully.
"That was a good act papa." Whispered Kelsey.
"Thanks, but first, how can we call your mom? She needs to be here."
"I have a cell phone, we use this in times like this. Wait, I'll call her." Ethan started dialing his mom's number. A moment later... "Hi mama, pwede ka po ba pumunta dito sa school?" "Kasi, gusto po kayo makausap ni Ms. Principal." "Ano po kasi~". He wasn't able to finish his sentence when Kelsey grabbed the phone.
"Ma, punta ka na po dito. Si Ethan po kasi binubully kaya pinapatawag ni Ms. Principal yung mga parents ng nagbubully sa kanya. Pero dapat po andito ka kaya punta na ikaw dito ngayon na po." She said and ended the call saka nya binalik yung phone sa kapatid nya.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" Patay-malisyang tanong ni Kelsey. Ibang klase talaga ang batang 'to.
"I was supposed to tell mama pero inunahan mo ko!" Ethan said irritatedly.
"Ang bagal mo kasi Ethan, pano makakapunta agad si mama dito kung ang bagal mo sabihin?"
"But~"
"Opps, tama na yan. Baka kayo pa mag-away. Kelsey, it's not right na bigla mo na lang aagawin kay Ethan yung phone, you should have let him tell your mom. And Ethan, learn to be more understanding, okay? Para wala ng away."
"Okay papa." They answered in unison.
"Let's go wait for you mama at the entrance, we have to tell her about our little act para hindi sya magulat mamya."
"Right!" Sabay nilang sagot and as usual, humawak ulit sila sa kamay ko habang naglalakad kami papuntang gate.
Ano kaya ang mukha ng mama nila? Sigurado maganda sya, ang gwapo at ang ganda ng kambal eh. Mabait kaya siya? Sana naman hindi sya magalit kung nagpanggap man akong tatay ng mga anak nya. I just want to help, pero sana hindi nya masamain. Sana...
~Makikila na nga ba sa wakas ni Edward ang mama nila Ethan and Kelsey? Abangan~
A/N: Hello friends! Kumusta kayo? As promised, nagkita na ulit sina Edward at ang kambal. Abang na lang po ulit if magtatagpo si Edward at ang mama nila. Sorry sa matagal na update ha. Please don't forget to vote and feel free to leave a comment. Thank you so much!